Transport for London and London Underground maintenance workers

That this House is dismayed to learn that Transport for London (TfL) is re-tendering essential track maintenance work on the Underground to private companies as part of its Track Labour Framework, rather than bringing this work in-house; expresses concern that, under existing sub-contracting arrangements, three-quarters of these sub-contracted workers reported that they struggle to make ends meet, and two-thirds would be worried about reporting safety concerns in case they jeopardise their chances of future work; is further concerned that there are no guarantees of protection for the earnings and working hours of these workers as part of the new tendering process, leaving TfL open to accept low bids that seek to cut costs and extract profits by driving down workers’ living standards; and calls on TfL to ensure that these contracts are funded sufficiently and structured to ensure that track workers’ earnings and hours of work are protected so they suffer no detriment as a consequence of the tendering process, and to review its overall approach to sub-contracting.